Counter-weight mechanism



NOV. 26, 1929. GLOEKLER 1,736,784

COUNTER WEIGHT MECHANI SM Filed Nov 16, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l X MA/ 6mg? 222M Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECOUNTER-WEIGHT IVIECI-IANISM Application filed November 16, 1928.

My invention consists of a balancing counterweighted lever mechanism forupwardly swinging doors of the trap door type.

It is especially designed for use in connection with the upwardlyopening door of a refrigerator or cabinet where the door is hinged atone side, closes downwardly to a horizontal position, and is swungupwardly on hinges at the back or one side. Ordinarily, such doors areof considerable weight,

requiring the exertion of considerable manual efiort to lift, and withliability to fall unless propped up or otherwise supported.

The improvement of my invention is designed to exert an overbalancinglifting assistance at the beginning of movement, main.- taining itsleverage against the gravitating tendency of the door, and withsufficient downward pull to hold the door in position when erected, ashereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings showing one preferred embodiment of theinvention:

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view through the upper portion of arefrigerator casing or the like showing the invention as applied, the

door being closed;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the door partly raised;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line IVIV of Fig. 1;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views showing successive positions ofthe device, illustrating the leverage action.

In the drawings, 2 represents the upper framing around the main walls ofthe box or other construction, surrounding the interior cavity oropening 3 to be covered.

Mounted on the framing 2 at one side is a supporting base 4 secured byscrews 5 and provided with the hinge lugs 6 for the transverse hingingbolt or pintle 7.

Pivoted thereon, between the lugs, is the fulcrum bearing or hingeterminal 8 of the strap hinge extension or arm 9, secured to the upperface of the cover or top 10. The latter which may be of wood or othersuitable material, is adapted to make a tight closing engagement withthe frame, as in Fig. 1.

Arm 9 is securely attached to the top 10 by Serial No. 319,975.

screws 11 or otherwise for upward and downward swinging movement aroundthe pivoting hinge 7. For the purpose of exerting a counterbalancing andlifting leverage on the top 10, arm 9 is provided with an arcuate orelliptical shaped arm 12 subject to the constant tension of acounterweight W through a connecting cable or cord 13.

Arm 12 as shown, is preferably inte ral Wit-h strap 9, and is alsoconnected with hub 8 by one or more spoke arms 14 for strength and rigidmounting. The arm 12 is provided with an outer open groove 15 forreception of the cable 13 which is secured to the inner end of the armthrough an opening 16 therein, or in any other suitable way.

The arm 12 and its conforming groove are developed around the pivotingor hinge center 7 in an elliptical path, by a curve of graduallyincreasing radius, as shown.

By such construction, the leverage action of weight W is greatest at thehorizontal or closed position of cover 10, tending to almost but notquite balance its weight when closed.

At the commencement of the rise, Figs. 1 and 5, under lifting action bythe operator as by handle or grip 17, the leverage action ofthe weightwill continue at its maximum until the cover is at or about the positionshown in Fig. 6, with the outer end of arm 12 lowered to about the samelevel as the hinge center 7. Thereafter the closing or downward leverageof the top reduces in approximate conformity with the reduced leverageaction of the weight and cable, as the point of contact of the cablewith the groove recedes inwardly in the direction of the diminishingradius of the arm 12. Thus when the top is thrown upwardly to its fullyopen position, as in Fig. 7, with spoke arm 14 resting against the rearedge of base 4, the gravitating action of the top is materially reduced,while the leverage action of the cable is relatively greater.

The weight W in such position is quite sufficient to hold the toperected without further assistance, and it may then be lowered to closedposition against the pull of the weight with but slight efiort.

Arm 12 may bemade integral with the cover attaching hinge as shown, ormay be separate and secured in any suitable way, but in eitherconstruction will function as described to assist in raising or loweringthe heavy cover 10.

The device is extremely simple, very durable and cheap, and iscontinually efficient. It may be changed or varied in detailconstruction, made in any suitable size to suit the requirements of use,or otherwise varied by the skilled mechanic, but all such changes are tobe understood a within the province of the skilled mechanic and thescope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A counterbalancing hinge support for an opening and closing coverprovided with an elliptical arm and a counterweight connected.therewith, and a strap hinge extension arm integrally connected with theelliptical arm.

2. A counterbalancing hinge support for an opening and closing coverprovided with an elliptical arm and a counterweight having a flexibletension-exerting element passing over the arm and secured thereto, and astrap hinge extension arm integrally connected with the elliptical arm.

3. A counterbalancing hinge support for an opening and closing coverprovided with an elliptical arm of increasing radius developed aroundthe hinge thereof, a flexible element secured to the arm adjacent thecover and laid over the arm and depending from its outer end, acounterweight secured to the flexible element, anda strap hingeextension arm connected with the elliptical arm and having an innerpivoting terminal.

4. A counterbalancing hinge support for an opening and closing coverprovided with an elliptical; arm having a peripheral groove, a cable orthe like secured to the inner end of the arm and laid in said groove, acounterweight secured to and exerting tension on the cable, and astraphinge extension arm con.- nected with the elliptical arm and having aninner pivoting terminal.

A counterbalancing hinge support for an opening and closing coverconsisting of a pivoting supporting base, lnngmgarm pivoted on the baseprovided with an ntes gral curved leverarm arching over the pivotalmounting thereof, a cable or the like secured to the inner portion ofthe lever arm and laid outwardly over the face thereof, and acounterweight secured to and exerting tension on the cable. T

6. A counterbalancing hinge support for an opening and closing coverconsistingof a pivoting supporting base, a hinging arm pivoted on thebase provided with an integral curved lever arm. developed outwardlyover the pivotal mounting thereof with an in.- creasing radius, flexibletension member secured to the inner portion of the lever arm JOHN EDWARDGLOEKLER.

